4 Ways To Protect Your Gear From Theft While Traveling

Brett Costello, an Australian
photographer for News Corp covering the Olympics last month, came face
to face with every freelancer’s worst nightmare: he had his $40,000 worth of camera gear stolen in plain sight.
Costello told authorities that he briefly turned away from his camera
bag when a woman asked him for help in a local coffee shop. When he
looked back his gear was gone.

This is a scary story most of us
wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy, but there are steps you can take to
avoid becoming another hapless victim like Brett. Here are a few tips to
keep your gear safe while you work.

1. Buy a proximity alarm.

Proximity alarms alert you when an
unexpected person comes within a certain distance of your gear and can
even track it if it’s stolen. Motion alarms like Tool Guard easily fit in a backpack or camera case and can be turned on or off with a key-fob. While GPS-based alarms like the Dewalt MOBILELOCKare more expensive
than motion sensor alarms, they’re also worth considering since they
track the whereabouts of your gear and send you texts or phone call
notifications if it’s on the move. Plus, it has an anti-theft alarm that
sends a siren if tampered with.

2. Register your gear.

While most manufacturers allow you to register your gear with them post-purchase, other registries like LensTag, Stolen Property, or Stolen Lost Found provide additional security by creating searchable public pages that link your identity to the serial number on your equipment.

3. Insure your equipment.

Insuring your equipment is probably
the most important thing you should do after making your purchase. One
way to get health and gear insurance, along with other benefits, is to
join a professional journalist or photographer organization like the Professional Photographers of America or the National Press Photographers Association.
Insurance should provide you with coverage for damage or theft, whether
you own the gear or are just renting it. It’s a smart move and worth
the cost. If you choose not to join a professional organization, there
are also companies that offer different policies based on your type of
gear or travel plans.

4. File a police report if your gear is stolen.

If you do end up having gear stolen,
make sure to file a police report because it’s usually necessary for
claiming your insurance. Plus, the police can help you recover your gear
if you’ve registered it or are using a tracker.